From gars@netcom.com Wed May 28 01:26:09 1997 Date: Tue, 27 May 1997 20:13:13 -0700 From: Gary Night Owl To: Internet Recipients of Wotanging Ikche Subject: Wotanging Ikche--nanews05.022 _ __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ____ _ __ ___ ' ) / / ') / / ) ' ) ) / ) / ' ) ) / ) / / / / / / /--/ / / / ___ / / / / ___ (_(_/ (__/ ( / (_ / (_ (___/ '__/_ / (_ (___/ ' O ____ _ , ___ _ , ___ O o O / ' ) / / ) ' ) / / ' O o O / /-< / /--/ /-- VOLUME 05, ISSUE 022 O o o o o O __/_ / ) (___/ / ( (___, 31 May 1997 O o O KANOHEDA ANIYVWIYA Otapi'sin Atsinikiisinaakssin O o O Es'te Opunvk'vmucvse Aunchemokauhettittea O ( N A T I V E A M E R I C A N N E W S ) This issue contains articles from NASC, Innu-L, NAT-FILM, Taino-L & Native-L lists; UUCP email; Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native; Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty Articles appearing have been previously posted for public dissemination and/or permission for inclusion has been secured. Letters of authorization are on file. A list of those granting permission to repost their words in this issue are listed at the end of part A. I thank each of you for allowing your words to be shared with the people. <----<<<< >>>>----> This newsletter is a way of keeping the brothers and sisters who share our Spirit informed about current events within the lives of those who walk the Red Road. ++ It may be subscribed to via email by sending a request from your own internet addressable account to gars@netcom.com ++ It is archived at http://www.nanews.org Thanks to Don Rayment ,don.rayment@uptowne.com, Wotanging Ikche/ Kanoheda Aniyvwiya is being redistributed via a listserver. If you would like to receive Wotanging Ikche via the listserver, you can send a message to listserv@uptowne.com and include, in the body of your message "sub wotanging.ikche " Thanks to Borries Demeler all _Wotanging_Ikche_ (part a) submissions to AISESnet are archived under AISESnet and can be accessed easily by World Wide Web: 1994: http://aises.uthscsa.edu/94_dis.html 1995: http://aises.uthscsa.edu/95_dis.html 1996: http://aises.uthscsa.edu/96_dis.html 1997: http://aises.uthscsa.edu/97_dis.html This is a searchable index to the AISESnet Discussion mailing list database archive, and the keyword "Wotanging" will retrieve all issues for that year. "Once I was in Victoria, and I saw a very large house. They told me it was a bank, and that the white men place their money there to be taken care of, and that by and by they got it back, with interest." "We are Indians, and we have no such bank; but when we have plenty of money or blankets, we give them away to other chiefs and people, and by and by they return them, with interest, and our hearts feel good. Our way of giving is our bank." __ Chief Maquinna, Nootka +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ | Indian Pledge of Allegiance | The Indian Pledge of Alleg- | | iance was first presented | I pledge allegiance to my Tribe,| on 2 December '93 during the | to the democratic principles | opening address of the Nat- | of the Republic | ional Congress of American | and to the individual freedoms | Indian Tribal-States Relat- | borrowed from the Iroquois and | ions Panel in Reno, NV. NCAI | Choctaw Confederacies, | plans distribution of the | as incorporated in the United | Indian Pledge to all Indian | States Constitution, | Nations. | so that my forefathers | | shall not have died in vain | Walk in Beauty! Night Owl +- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -+ O'siyo Brothers and Sisters! I ran this quote in the last issue: "My mother told me, 'Every part of Earth is sacred to our people. Every pine needle; every sandy shore; every mist in the dark woods; every meadow and humming insect.'...All are holy in the memory of our people." __ Chief Seattle, Nee-mee-poo and received this response from Ted Burton : The Nee-mee-poo or Nimipu are Anglo'd as Nez Perce, of Eastern Washington, Northeast Oregon, Northern & Central Idaho. I am not familiar which Puget Sound area tribe your quotation comes from, but it is not Nimipu. I thank Ted for this correction. It is not unusual to find quotes misattributed to Chief Seattle. The reference I use, though, is usually reliable. The lesson is to always be cautious. Again, my thanks to Ted. Recently there has been discussion on some lists about an incident that occurred at Etowah Mounds, a Georgia State Park that is a preserved Native site, when a Cherokee Elder was threatened at gunpoint for seeking to pray on the anniversary of the beginning of the Trail of Tears. I have been granted permission to print the comments of that Elder: > This weekend marks the completion of a full cycle, four seasons, since >I was refused admittance to pray. As I always do at the completion of a >cycle, I reflect back and try to learn from each thing that affects my >life. > And what I have learned it this. > Mankind has not advanced since this event. Mankind has not learned >from the dishonor they did by refusal to allow a person to stand in >sacredness on a land that my ancestors died for. > I look around and what I see are my Brothers and Sisters who have lost >their homeland at Big Mountain. Elders being beaten on sacred Seneca >lands. Forests being cut down, waters poisoned, children starving, >Sacred leaders harmed. > My heart is sad for man has still not learned the consequences of his >actions. Birds fly in tainted air, flying slower and lower as they >struggle to survive. Indian babies are still born with higher rates of >birth defects than any other culture. Suicide rates are still climbing >as our young people are unable to adjust to the dictates of the >oppressive culture. > I still cannot stand without a permit to pray, at a site my Ancestors >shed blood for. > Mankind has not yet learned, and the time is growing shorter to heal >what precious little is left to us all. > It is not a matter of skin color, nor is it a matter of religious >belief. It goes far deeper than this, 7 levels deeper. > Mankind in his greed has reached a point that it is now impossible to >bring things back to their original state. > Sacred Buffalo are now slaughtered. > The Washichu Government is taking back our sacred lands. > We walk on lands destroyed by mining. > Mankind has not learned. > Until they learn that no one person, no one government, no one culture >can stand alone and survive, then we shall all perish together. > The government of this country will not hear our cries. Perhaps soon >the governments of other countries shall. > We are requesting of other governments that a world tribunal be setup >to try the United States Government for acts of atrocity upon the People >of the World. > We take our messages to the world Peoples. > For me, the lesson at the end of this cycle is this: > The world must know that they still insist on a permit to pray, and I >shall speak the words to them. > Perhaps, just perhaps, next Memorial Day I shall be allowed to stand on >those lands and offer cedar, corn, sage to my Grandmothers, as they for >centuries past, offered. > The greatest lesson for me is to not quit. > I have learned well from it. > There shall be an accountability, and I shall not stop until someone in >the washichu government says the words they have refused to speak since >they murdered Crazy Horse in 1877. > We are sorry > and > We shall never do it again. As you read the articles regarding the situation in New York, keep this late news in mind. Convenience store operators in New York have filed suit to stop the agreement between the State of New York and the Native Nations. Two thoughts keep occurring to me: - Isn't it strange how the accord was reached just in time to open up New York highways to Memorial Day traffic, and halted immediately after? - Why are these accords necessary? Does New York not honor the treaties made between the United States and the Six Nations? If it does NOT, isn't it the responsibility of the Justice Department to enforce compliance? I must sadly report another precious Elder has been lost to the People. Respected Elder, Grandmother Alice Benally of the Dine who brought the Sun Dance to Big Mountain, has crossed over. Those that knew her were blessed with her strength and life's beauty. She will be extremely missed in the future time. Jim Steele sends the following: Hau Gary: Floyd Hand, the Lakota spiritual interpreter who has asked for Internet users to help him prevent the buffalo slaughter at Yellowstone National Park, now has his home page up. The address is http://www.dink.com/floyd The page has texts from Mr. Hand on native spirituality and the visions he has received from the White Buffalo Calf Woman of coming times, as well as links to a few selected sites, including the one that indexes the news stories about the White Buffalo Calf in Jaynesville, Wis. Mr. Hand's address and phone number are also there. The page is in working order now, and additional postings and graphics will be added to it in the future. I would appreciate it if you would include this in your next issue. Pilamaya! Toksa ake, Jim Steele Thanks to Mike Wicks for these reminders: In Memory (with Respect and Honor) 6.1.1975 Kenneth Little - AIM supporter killed at Pine Ridge by Goons. Investigation still "pending." 6.4.1976 Kevin Hill - AIM supporter killed at Oglala by "party or parties unknown." Investigation "still open." Peace! Night Owl , , Gary Night Owl gars@netcom.com (*,*) P. O. Box 672168 gars@nanews.org (`-') Marietta, GA 30067, U.S.A. gars@igc.apc.org ===w=w=== gars@bellsouth.net Fax: 770-528-9643 gars@juno.com ----------- News of the people featured in this issue ---------- Part A: Usenet and e-mail Part B: NATIVE-L list - Peltier's Health - Conferences and Powwows - online - Mohawk Chiefs Proposals - Attack in Mexico - Pitaki News Release - INTEFOR SLAPPs FAN Activists - Democrats to Refund Contributions - American Indian College Fund Job - Armed BIA Police Assist in Firing - Gustafsen: CASNP Statement - Gustafsen Verdict: Reactions - Bruce Clark Speaks - Mole Lake Attacked - Mole Lake Alerts - Bear Speaks - Covelo Indian Community - Navajo Traditionals Forced to Sign - Goose Bay Expansion - TTT Policy - Bumpy Road to Hawaiian Independence - Logging Bill Alert - Council on Historic Preservation - Protect What is Ours - A Hundred Years Ago - Poem: Mr. Government - Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days - Conferences and Powwows - offline --------- "RE: Peltier's Health" --------- Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 15:02:49 -0400 From: ishgooda@tdi.net Subj: Urgent--Peltier's Health 5-20 -Forwarded ------- FORWARD, Original message follows ------- On Monday, March 19th, Leonard Peltier was informed by a physician's assistant that an error was discovered on blood work which was done a couple of months ago. Leonard was told that he tested positive for Hepatitis B. Originally at the time of this blood work, Leonard was told that everything was okay. It is imperative for all concerned with the health, safety, and well being of Leonard, to immediately call for a new blood test. Additionally, we all need to request a qualified physician to administer, view, interpret, and disclose the results at once. Warden Page True, USP Leavenworth, Box 1000, LVN, KS 66048 (913)682-8700 Kathleen Hawk, Bureau of Prisons, Holc Bldg, 320 1st ST NW, Washington, DC 20534 (202)514-2000, (913)514-6867 (fax) Attorney General Janet Reno, Dept of Justice, 10th & Constitution, Washington, DC 20530 (202)514-4371 --------- "RE: Mohawk Chiefs Proposals" --------- Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 14:46:01 -0400 (EDT) From: bf145@freenet.carleton.ca (Allen Gabriel) Subj: MNCC Press Release UUCP email PRESS RELEASE MOHAWK NATION COUNCIL OF CHIEFS RELEASES ITS PROPOSALS TO RESOLVE CONFLICT WITH THE STATE OF NEW YORK (AKWESASNE MAY 21, 1997) The Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs has completed its analysis of the Trade and Commerce Agreement between the State of New York and the Haudenosaunee. Also released was a summary of Council's vision for the long-term self-sufficiency of the Haudenosaunee. A review of the document has brought us to the conclusion that the proposed agreement, in its current form, is unacceptable to our Council. While several aspects of the proposal have merit, our sovereignty and our responsibilities to Creation and the future generations have not been adequately addressed. The current situation volatile. Tensions are high, emotions are raw and we are beginning to witness needless acts of violence. We need to seek creative solutions that will benefit our people as a whole and it is with that in mind that we present our vision of the future to the public. Western politicians are often motivated by public opinion. We hope people will support our proposals and pressure their representatives to continue to negotiate towards fair, just and long-term solutions. We are launching a strategy to get this information to as many people as possible. Council intends to reach out to citizens of the Haudenosaunee, New York State, the United States and other countries around the world to see if there is support for our vision. The principles at the heart of any agreement should be sound. We believe the following should form the basis of our approach to discussions: - we have rights and we don't apologize for having them. - negotiations should be based on true mutual recognition and respect and should affirm the respective sovereignty of the parties. - negotiations should contribute to the re-establishment of relations between governments. Such a relationship can lead to the resolution of other issues, including land rights, hunting rights, etc. - a true nation-to-nation agreement would be based on the principles of the Kaswentah. It would involve negotiations between the U.S. (with the State as part of their delegation) and the Haudenosaunee as a whole. - a good agreement would ensure that the proceeds generated through the exercise of our collective rights go substantially to the communities. - a good agreement must provide the Haudenosaunee the opportunity to work on a long term transition that will break our dependence on foreign governments and allow us to achieve self-sufficiency (true sovereignty). - a good agreement should help us avoid confrontations which involve unnecessary risk and possible injury. It should promote the potential to create peace and prosperity and that's what the confederacy is about. In order to address the issues in an organized manner, we (the Haudenosaunee) have to ask ourselves some basic questions. - are we able to come together on this issue, or will we continue to participate in the divide and conquer strategies that the colonizers have used against us for years? - are we ready to deal with the issues as the Kaianerekowa intends -- looking after the interests of the next generations as well as our own? We look forward to participating in a process where all concerned can adopt a long term vision for the future a vision that we can communicate to the world and which will lead us back to peaceful and respectful relations. For more information, please contact the Mohawk Nation Council Office: (518) 358-3381. Attachments: Highlights of: the Agreement Summary of: Community Development in Keeping With our Ways <<<< Attachment #1 >>>> TRADE AND COMMERCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE HAUDENOSAUNEE -- HIGHLIGHTS FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION Prepared by the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs May 1997 INTRODUCTION These highlights are presented in order to simplify the contents and implications of the recently released document entitled, Trade and Commerce Agreement Between the State of New York and the Haudenosaunee. It is important for everyone to engage in an informed public dialogue on this vital issue. We hope our views make a constructive contribution to identifying a process to lead us out of this intolerable situation. It may well be that there is other information that was unavailable at time of writing and, therefore, was not considered in this exercise. The agreement has been released to the public, however, and reaction will be based on that document. ADMINISTRATION OF TRADE AND COMMERCE SECTIONS III, IV, V, VI, VIII, IX, X, XI AND XIII If all we want is to administer the cigarette and tobacco trade in our communities, the nuts and bolts of this agreement can help us do that. The licensing, stamping, distribution and compliance clauses are fairly standard. They offer the potential to distribute benefits generated through the exercise of our rights more widely rather than concentrate wealth in the hands of a few individuals. If the regulation of this industry was the primary focus of this agreement, we would have no need to analyze it further. The negotiators did well with these clauses. However, there is considerably more at stake with this agreement than trade in tobacco products. It is these clauses which need to be examined more closely. SECTION I: THE PREAMBLE The preamble opens by stating that this agreement is made in the spirit of the Canandaigua Treaty of 1794, in order to further the mutual respect, peace and friendship that exists between the Haudenosaunee and State of New York. Later in the preamble, though, it is clearly stated that "the fact that the State of New York has signed this Agreement should not be interpreted as any indication that the State is ratifying the 1794 Canandaigua Treaty...". Further, this agreement is not based on the nation-to-nation principle articulated in the Kaswentah which we've always held to. It is an administrative agreement between the New York State and a few federally-recognized tribes. The Haudenosaunee is not being recognized as a whole. SECTION II. IMPLEMENTATION (JURISDICTION) The relationship recognized here is not balanced. Article II (B) states: "This Agreement shall not constitute a waiver or relinquishment of any sovereign or statutory powers or immunities now possessed by the State of New York, and the State of New York shall retain all the jurisdiction it currently possesses, nor shall it constitute a waiver or relinquishment of any of the rights privileges or immunities afforded to citizens of New York or the United States of America." For its part, "The State agrees not to interfere with the Haudenosaunee Nations' exercise of its jurisdiction." The state's statutory power is recognized but not the Haudenosaunee's. As well, this agreement allows the State of New York to erode the Haudenosaunee Confederacy by referring to "each Haudenosaunee Nation", while meaning only the federally-recognized tribes. There is also an explicit distinction made between New York State and U.S. citizens and "members" of the Haudenosaunee nations. A refusal to use the term 'citizen' when referring to the Haudenosaunee further diminishes our status according to the Kaswentah. SECTION VII. PARITY For the purposes of this agreement, parity is intended to establish the mythical "level playing field" with off-territory convenience stores in terms of tobacco products. It ignores that the larger economic playing field among the territories is far from level. In exchange for our getting the lion's share of the responsibilities and obligations, we lose an important source of revenue (gasoline). These revenues could have been channeled back into the communities and invested towards the future growth and self-sufficiency of our people. We will be responsible for the cost and burden of the administration of licensing and regulatory approvals, and the reporting and accounting to the State. It seems unlikely that licensing fees and the .256 per carton fee will be able to cover the cost of that administration. The concession on fuel also eliminates the opportunity for the Haudenosaunee to explore environmentally safer options such as ethanol and methane fuels and better storage technologies. It also prevents someone who wants to operate according to stringent environmental standards (gas/service station/convenience store). SECTION XII. CHOICE OF FORUM/LAWS Any dispute between the Haudenosaunee and State of New York that have gone unresolved for more than sixty days will be sent to the United States Federal Court for final resolution. This part of the clause is very damaging. The federally-recognized tribes agree to submit themselves to U.S. law rather than to finding international remedies. This is inconsistent with our historically-held position on our nationhood. It may also undermine the years of hard work that has been done in Geneva to have our nationhood recognized by the international community. SECTION XIV. SEVERABILITY If one or more of the clauses (except Section VII, the one on parity) are successfully invalidated in any court, the agreement lives on. If, however, any part of Section VII is invalidated in any court, the agreement dies. If the agreement dies, and the parties cannot renegotiate the agreement within six (6) months, the federally-recognized tribes agree that New York State's tax regulations will apply in Haudenosaunee territories. We will have accepted a foreign government's right to tax us, so that our money will again be going into their pockets. What was presented as a trade and commerce agreement becomes a tax compact. SECTION XV. GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY The question here is whether any federally-recognized tribes can legally enter into this agreement without the participation of the Mohawk and Cayuga Nation leadership and still be called Haudenosaunee. <<<< Attachment #2 >>>> COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN KEEPING WITH OUR WAYS -- A SUMMARY FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION Prepared by the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs May 1997 MISSION STATEMENT The Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs believes that our communities can become self-sustaining and healthy only by promoting growth and development in a culturally-appropriate manner. BACKGROUND Our communities have been dragged and beaten over the centuries into unwilling submission to the American and Canadian economies. These systems promote and reward consumption and exploitation. They encourage greed. They encourage the destruction of the environment. They advocate a throw-away lifestyle which includes people as well as things. Our people, even those who have adopted the American and Canadian value system as their own, are among those who are disposable. We are all achingly familiar with the results: diabetes, heart attacks, suicide, addictions, family violence, unemployment, underemployment, polluted lands and water, substandard housing -- emotional and financial poverty. Americans and Canadians have learned to consume life without living it well. The strong influences of their societies have caused many of our people to adopt their ways. In essence, our communities have been dragged across the three beads of the Kaswentah and into their boat. We must choose whether to stay in their boat, as our band councils have done, build a boat just like theirs, as many of our business people have done, or make the journey back across the three beads to our canoe. It may well be that the canoe is now made of cedar or fiberglass because the trees we used for bark are all but gone, but it is still a canoe and it is ours. The Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs has a vision and plan for beginning the process of reclaiming our economy and providing for the development, growth and viability of Rotinonsionni communities that are truly healthy, self-sufficient and autonomous. PRINCIPLES - Our ECONOMY must be self-sustaining and developed in a culturally appropriate manner. We must promote the idea that a good quality of life is based on much more than just earning a salary. - EDUCATION is more than churning out people who know how to make a living in corporate North America. We must promote broad bases of expertise in our communities in the areas which will provide the best foundation for independence from foreign governments. Individuals will know their place in the community, their rights and responsibilities as Rotinonsionni. They will be valued for their skills and gifts. - A healthy ENVIRONMENT means having a healthy and secure place to live and raise our children. It means we have control over our lands, waters and resources. In order to achieve this, our activities must be driven by our desire to heal the extended family of our communities. It is essential that we focus our energy on restoring the institutions that once allowed our communities to flourish. PROPOSALS 1. Economic activities based on the co-operative model are an effective tool for: - increasing the viability of operations that promote the health of the community over a large profit margin; - instilling a sense of community involvement and ownership in community businesses; - developing a broader base of skills among the population. POTENTIAL CO-OPERATIVE VENTURES: organic farming, dairy farming, cheese and yogurt-making, aquaculture, meat farming, sheep farming (including wool gathering, processing and weaving) 2. Apprenticeships are a vital way for the community to acquire knowledge, not just services. They can be a driving force behind changing how our people are educated by: - making apprenticeships a necessary condition for our purchase of outside services until we develop our own "experts". For example, if we hire an outside construction firm to build on our community, we insist that they take on some of our carpentry and welding students as apprentices during the construction; if we are using outside lawyers to process our land claims, we insist they use our law students and paralegal students to help them with their research and in negotiations; - encouraging those of us who already have skills to take on apprenticeships from within our community for a few months of each year - using the "co-op" model in our high schools, allowing senior students to get credits for working with members of the community APPRENTICESHIP AREAS: skilled trades, licensing people and inspectors, health and nutrition fields, legal workers, communications and telecommunications, environmental assessment and remediation, alternative housing, cooking and preserving, agribusiness, finance and accounting, eco-tourism. 3. There is a pressing need for Kanienkehaka-owned, operated and controlled communications industries. The mainstream media have proven that they are primarily concerned with promoting instant gratification over value. We are bombarded with powerful advertising promoting the consumption of junk food, Nintendo, Air Jordans, infant formula, and lipstick. The corporate owners of the various media have their own agenda -- and it conflicts directly with our goals and aspirations. We can: - add to our already-working print media and radio stations by promoting the profile of role models (past and present) in our communities-these would be along the lines of the vignettes Bob Johnstone does on CBC radio. We can involve our students in researching and producing these vignettes, and expand them to other media as we progress; - look at the establishment of our own television production facilities or cable programs. Television is a powerful and effective medium which we must begin to use to promote our own culture and vision; - we can look at developing our own electronic superhighway, and using the Internet to educate others and exchange ideas with other Aboriginal communities. CONCLUSION The foregoing are discussion points, and highlights, from a more comprehensive vision document. We recognize that there will be a long period of transition back across to our side of the Kaswentah. Our communities will need to determine what they need to have quality of life, and what they can do without. We need to look at financing our drive for healthy self-sufficiency. But we must also recognize that, with community support, this is a plan that is viable. It can empower our people. There is a major difference between getting people off welfare and promoting growth and development in keeping with our culture and values. It's like the adage, "Give a man a fish and he'll feed himself once. But teach him how to fish, and he'll feed himself and his family for the rest of his life." Community and nation development is not only about infrastructure and profit. It's about people, and it's about restoring healthy families and a strong Confederacy. --------- "RE: Pitaki News Release" --------- Date: Thu, 22 May 1997 21:34:42 -0400 Date: 97-05-22 19:26:38 EDT Subj: NASC: Pitaki News Release and web link Mailing List: Native American Story Circle ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~ Folks, this data has been released to share with you. Please pay close attention to this story. It is a good idea to follow web links. ~<>~//\/\/\\~<>~ NASC MAILING~<>~//\/\/\\~<>~ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 22, 1997 Governor Pitaki Acts to Bring Fairness to Indian Nations Legislation Respects Sovereignty of Indian Nations, Resolves Tax Dispute Governor George E. Pitaki today took a series of steps designed to bring fairness to Indian Nations by resolving the historic tax disputes that have divided New Yorkers and Native Americans for generations. "For more than two and half years, I have worked to balance my oath of office to uphold the laws of our state with my profound respect for the rights of all people and for the sovereignty of the Indian Nations," the Governor said. "We have demonstrated that commitment through our good- faith negotiations with the Indian Nations. We sat down with the Indian leaders, listened to their concerns, worked on our differences, attempted to come together," the Governor said. "And we did have some significant success. We reached agreements with six of the Nations -- sending a message to all New Yorkers and Native Americans alike that we have entered a new era of peaceful cooperation. "The federal Department of Tribal Justice praised these agreements, calling them fair and creative pacts that respected the sovereignty of the nations and my obligation to uphold the law," Governor Pitaki said. "But as we have seen in recent weeks, this issue remains extremely complex and continues to divide us. Various Supreme Court and other court rulings have only added to the confusion and polarized entire communities. "That is not the resolution we have sought, nor is it one that I will accept," the Governor said. "And it is not the solution that our Indian Nation partners have sought". In an effort to resolve this issue, Governor Pitaki today directed the State Department of Taxation and Finance to repeal its regulations governing the collection of taxes from gasoline and cigarette sales at reservations stores. In addition, the Governor today sent to the State Legislature a bill that would amend the State Tax Law to allow reservation stores to sell tax-free gasoline and cigarettes. "These steps will allow the Indian Nations to manage these enterprises on their own, as they have for decades," the Governor said. "Let me make my message to all Indian Nations clear: It is your land, we respect your sovereignty and, if the Legislature acts as I am requesting, you will have the right to sell tax- free gasoline and cigarettes free from interference from New York State. "For centuries, the people of New York have lived side by side with their Native American neighbors; working together, raising families together, going to school together," Governor Pitaki said. "It should be a relationship of mutual respect, but history teaches us that this has not always been true. "No New Yorker wants to see their neighbor suffer the indignity that comes with the loss of hope and opportunity," the Governor said. "No New Yorker wants to see their neighbor struggling to find work, struggling to provide for their family, struggling to build a better life for their children. All of us want to build a better future for our State -- and, I believe, that includes the Indian Nations, who, though sovereign nations, are our neighbors." Governor Pitaki urged the State Legislature to act quickly on his bill in order to restore fairness to the Indian Nations and bring peace to the entire region. "For the sake of unity, for the sake of sovereignty, for the sake of fairness, I strongly urge the Legislature to pass this historic bill now," the Governor said. "Make no mistake about it: The Indians' needs are real and all New Yorkers must be sensitive to them." Governor Pitaki said he will continue to work with Indian Nations to resolve outstanding issues and improve the relationship on a government-to-government basis. "When I took office, I inherited a series of problems that, on their face, seemed so intractable that they were beyond resolution," Governor Pitaki said. "No issue was more complex than our relationship with the sovereign Indian Nations, who have had to overcome discrimination, economic inequities, and perhaps worst of all, that their calls for help and fairness fell on deaf ears. "I have sought to improve our relationship with the Indian Nations. I resolved that we would not ignore their needs, that we would look for ways to find common ground," the Governor said. "We have made real progress in resolving this issue, but as we have seen in recent weeks, this issue remains extremely complex and continues to divide us. We have pledged in our conversations today with Indian Nation leaders that this is a continuation of our partnership, a continuation of our effort to come together and build a better life for New Yorkers and Native Americans alike," the Governor said. "Our strength comes from mutual respect, from finding common ground, from listening to one another, from walking arm in arm. The result will be a better future for all of us." /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ WEB LINKS TO RELATED ARTICLES: Governor Pitaki Acts to Bring Fairness to Indian Nations ~<>~//\/\/\\~<>~ NASC MAILING ~<>~//\/\/\\~<>~ Please remember that the NASC (NA STORY CIRCLE) mailing list is a free SUBSCRIPTION mailing list which is just over 600 people........... If you wish to be placed or removed from this listing simply email iswanmoon@aol.com. Thank you. ~<>~//\/\/\\~<>~ NASC MAILING ~<>~//\/\/\\~<>~ --------- "RE: Democrats to Refund Contributions" --------- Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 18:05:59 GMT From: gehring.1@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (Glenn Gehring) Subj: *Cherokee Nation-Democrats to refund Byrd contributions* Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native A report in Friday's Washington Post (May 23, page A16) says the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has agreed to refund Cherokee Nation for money spent by Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Joe Byrd during the last election. The contributions to the DNC may have been in violation of both federal and tribal law. Langdon (DNC's spokesperson) is quoted as saying; "We've been working hard to resolve this situation as quickly as we can. We have asked for an invoice to see how much money we're going to reimburse." Byrd has been charged in Tribal court with illegally diverting tribal funds. Evidence was for the charge, and the DNC contributions, was obtained when the Cherokee Marshals executed a search warrant and seized documents from Byrd's office. Byrd subsequently fired the Marshals who were then reinstated by the Judicial Appeals Tribunal in accordance with Cherokee law. Byrd refused to obey the court order and moved to impeach the Justices of the Judicial Appeals Tribunal. Both actions were in blatant violation of the Cherokee Constitution, and are extremely controversial among the Cherokee People. Byrd also invited the BIA police to take over Cherokee law enforcement. More on BIA involvement later, Glenn --------- "RE: Armed BIA Police Assist in Firing" --------- Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 21:09:59 GMT From: gehring.1@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (Glenn Gehring) Subj: *Cherokee Nation* Armed BIA police assist in firing! Newsgroups: alt.native,soc.culture.native Armed BIA police assisted in removing recently fired Gerald Cantrell from his position as CEO of Cherokee Nation Enterprises (CNE) Friday, May 23. CNE operates tribal gaming, gift shops, gas and convenience store operations, and the restaurant for Cherokee Nation. It has been reported that Cherokee Chief Joe Byrd had initially fired Cantrell after Cantrell refused to send a check for $55,000 to a law firm where a Byrd family member is employed. The bills were for work _not_ related to CNE, so Cantrell refused to make payment from CNE funds. The Judicial Appeals Tribunal re-instated Cantrell as CEO. Cantrell was fired again last Friday. Jerry Holderby (long time Byrd friend) was named the new CEO of Cherokee Nation Enterprises. The Board of Directors (appointed by Byrd) requested that the BIA police assist in removing Cantrell and installing Holderby. The BIA police complied. No violence was reported. Holderby, until recently, was on the Board of Directors of CNE. CNE rules forbid directors from obtaining employment at CNE for at least two years after serving on the board. In a related development, a letter apparently from BIA Field Director Jim Fields to Chief Byrd (dated 5/2/97) has surfaced (see Observer's web site below). In the letter, BIA Field Director Jim Fields confirms the BIA police WILL enforce tribal laws (I interpret this as informing Byrd they have permission from Washington to use force in support of Chief Byrd). I suspect Friday's action will be followed with several other BIA armed interventions in Cherokee Nation. Is our courthouse next? To learn more about the Cherokee constitutional crisis on the Internet see the following web pages. http://www.YvwiiUsdinvnohii.net/Cherokee/Observer.shtml http://www.tulsaworld.com/ (choose the search option-leave everything blank but at keywords type in "Cherokee"- then limit the search to 1997) Glenn Gehring Tribal member-Cherokee Nation (above opinions are my own) --------- "RE: Gustafsen: CASNP Statement" --------- Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 10:25:14 -0700 From: "S.I.S.I.S." Subj: Gustafsen: CASNP statement on verdict :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Canadian Alliance in Solidarity with the Native Peoples CASNP 416-972-1573 Fax 416-972-6232 email casnp@pathcom.com web: http://www.pathcom.com/~casnp THE ABORIGINAL PATRIOTS OF GUSTAFSEN LAKE FOUND GUILTY BY ILLEGAL BRITISH COLUMBIA COURT CASNP. 20-May-97. After a year long trial, the Patriots of Gustafsen Lake, who made a similar stand to Geronimo and Crazy Horse, are the 20th Century Louis Riel. Or is this the Canadian Leonard Peltier situation? They fought for their land. The question is why are the people of Chechnya and other places who defended their lands not prosecuted? When Indigenous people stand up, the police bring their bullets, illegal judicial system and unjust laws. This is an unjust and illegal decision to find these prisoners of war guilty when they have no right to try them in the first place according to the "rule of law", their own legal principles. When the decision came down finding most of them guilty, the native head of the jury held a feather in his hand and cried. Judge Josephson who was instructed by the Canadian government to steer the jury to find them guilty, found they had no way out. Judge Josephson told the jury to discount the "colour of right", self-defence and jurisdiction arguments. All that was left was to find them guilty. Dr. Bruce Clark, the Aboriginal's lawyer, told them they did not have to be complicit in genocide by withdrawing from the case, not making a decision and recommending this issue be turned over to an impartial third party tribunal at the international level. Wolverine was found guilty of mischief endangering life which is a life sentence. The attempted murder charge was dropped. Will a political decision be made to deny him bail and to keep him in jail? As seen throughout this case the B.C. courts make up the rules as they go along. This unlawful decision of the newcomers demonstrates again that they have imposed their unjust laws on native people without their consent on unpurchased Indian land without without their consent on unpurchased Indian land without a right to defend themselves. They were defending themselves on their unceded land when they were attacked by heavily armed RCMP and the Canadian army. Shouldn't there be equal justice under the law? This means Ontario Provincial Police officer, Kenneth Deane, who was found guilty of gunning down Dudley George of Stoney Point, should get life in jail for murder. This decision is consistent with 139 years of fraud, treason and genocide. It urges us to continue and go forward. The British Columbia Court's grotesque lawless actions in this case supports everything the defendants have continually asked for - and independent third party tribunal to investigate the crimes in progress against Aboriginal people in British Columbia. There has to be an inquiry into police wrongdoing as well as wrongdoing into the highest levels of the British Columbia and Canadian governments. Many questions have to be answered. Contact: 604-543-9661; 416-972-1573; 604-251-4949 :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 ==>>NEW EMAIL : WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html SOVERNET-L is a news-only listserv concerned with indigenous sovereigntist struggles around the world. To subscribe, send "subscribe sovernet-l" in the body of an email message to For more information on sovernet-l, contact S.I.S.I.S. --------- "RE: Gustafsen Verdict: Reactions" --------- Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 21:23:31 -0700 From: "S.I.S.I.S." Subj: Gustafsen Verdict: Reactions :-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty-:-:-:-:-:-:-: May 24, 1997 Bulletin MORE ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS: BC'S ANSWER TO INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY Expressions of support and solidarity for the Ts'peten (Gustafsen Lake) Defenders, and shock, outrage and alarm at the outrageous machinations of BC's corrupt colonialist court system continue to build. 39 acquittals and 21 convictions were registered on Tuesday against the 18 defendants charged in connection with the month long, summer 1995 siege of sacred burial and Sundance grounds on unceded, sovereign Shuswap territory by the largest police/military offensive in Canadian history. In preparation for the scheduled June 6 and 10 sentencing, BC's settler state has cranked up the hate machine to manufacture consent for the harsh sentences the Crown has signalled it will be seeking. BC's chief media liaison officer Peter Montague told "The Province" newspaper that "the operation had overwhelming public support. All we ever asked for was to allow the RCMP to do its job independently... we had to take action. There are no manuals dealing with what to do in this situation." Montague was captured on RCMP "training" videotapes played during the trial stating that "smear campaigns are our specialty." Montague also told "The Province" (May 21, p. A 4) that the RCMP "will be ready - if and when another armed native standoff occurs in BC - with armoured personnel carriers on hand so the RCMP never again have to bicker with the Armed Forces over borrowing their vehicles. 'Some things we didn't have at Gustafsen Lake, every attempt will be made to ensure the resources are available so things don't build and fester to the degree they did at Gustafsen Lake.'" BC's New Democratic Party Attorney General Ujjal Dosanjh, who doubles as the Human Rights Minister, and largely co-ordinated the Gustafsen Lake operation as part of the NDP's run-up to their re-election campaign, wisely chose silence: "The Attorney General shouldn't be making a comment... Who knows where this could end up?" (Vancouver Sun, May 21, 1997, p. A7). The BC Liberal Party aboriginal affairs critic, Mike Dejong, instead of criticizing the government's outrageous actions, simply restated the "One law for all" refrain enunciated by the NDP Attorney General. "If you violate the criminal law of the land, you will face the penalty," said Dejong. "That should happen, and we'll be watching the sentencing very carefully" (Vancouver Sun, May 21, 1997, p. A7). S.I.S.I.S. spoke with imprisoned Defenders OJ Pitawanakwat and Shuswap elder Wolverine today. Wolverine once again called upon the international community, human rights agencies, and progressives world-side to investigate and condemn Canada's ongoing colonialist practices. OJ Pitawanakwat said the stand at Ts'peten was about "ending the cultural genocide of my people". The Vancouver Sun also quoted him: "I would say I know how my ancestors felt - we need more people fighting for our rights than just sitting on the fence and watching." ( May 21, p. A7) Defence lawyer George Wool characterized the Gustafsen Lake incident as "A lot to do about... nothing" (BCTV News, May 20, 1997). Another Defence lawyer, Don Campbell, told the Vancouver Sun that "the length of the trial prevented him from competing with the national sky-diving team in 1996 and he's missed out again this year because he couldn't attend the training camps in Arizona that run from February to April" (May 22, B6). His partner Sheldon Tate, who attempted to rehabilitate the discredited RCMP propaganda that the "spiritual" elements were "under the thumb of the militants," said: "the rule book got thrown away in this trial... There had to be adaptations to the administration of justice to make it work... There's been a heavy price to pay in what I believe is my ethical obligation to my clients." (Vancouver Sun, May 22, 1997, B6). Native rights lawyer Dr. Bruce Clark, who is counsel of choice for many of the defendants but was prevented from appearing for them by the BC Law Society and by Judge Bruce Josephson, told S.I.S.I.S. today "The jury had no choice but to find the way it did given the judge's instructions to them that they had to accept that these events took place on private property belonging to Lyle James, and that the province and the court has jurisdiction. The problem is the law to the contrary; the native law, the international law and the constitutional law putting the lie to the judge's position still has not been addressed." Several jurors seemed visibly shaken as the verdict was read; a number of them wept openly. They asked to make a statement but were dissuaded after the judge instructed them on issues of immunity and liability. Judge Josephson thanked them for their verdict. "To my knowledge never before have citizens been asked to make such a large sacrifice on behalf of the people of this province... A simple thank you is hardly adequate, members of the jury, but that is all I can offer you." =====DEMAND A PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO GUSTAFSEN LAKE AND IPPERWASH===== -->>FREE THE TS'PETEN DEFENDERS<<>>FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS<<-- Sample letters, links to politicians' email and a more comprehensive list of addresses can be found on the Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty (S.I.S.I.S.) site, at: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/GustLake/letter.html Please send a copy of your letters to S.I.S.I.S. This lets the Defenders know people are taking action on their behalf. Prime Minister Jean Chretien House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A OA6 Canada Phone: (613) 992-4211 Fax: (613) 941-6900 Faxing by email:remote-printer.Jean_Chretien@16139416900.iddd.tpc.int email:pm@pm.gc.ca WWW comments: http://pm.gc.ca/english/pmo/e_corres.htm Governor General Romeo Le Blanc 1 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A1 Canada Phone: (613) 993-8200 Fax: (613) 990-7636 OR (613) 990-1967 Faxing by email: remote-printer.Romeo_Le_Blanc@16139931967.iddd.tpc.int WWW comments: http://www.schoolnet.ca/collections/governor Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs c/o Parliament Building, Victoria, BC V8V 1X4 Canada Ian Waddell, Chair Phone: (250) 387-2317 Fax: (250) 356-7156 Committees Clerk Phone: (250) 356-6318 email: ClerkComm@lass.gov.bc.ca (attn: Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs) Letters to the editor: The Province: provedpg@pacpress.southam.ca Vancouver Sun: sunletters@pacpress.southam.ca :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 ==>>NEW EMAIL : WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html SOVERNET-L is a news-only listserv concerned with indigenous sovereigntist struggles around the world. To subscribe, send "subscribe sovernet-l" in the body of an email message to For more information on sovernet-l, contact S.I.S.I.S. --------- "RE: Bruce Clark Speaks" --------- Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 11:05:05 -0700 From: "S.I.S.I.S." Subj: Bruce Clark on Gustafsen, Seneca and Mohegans v. NY :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:- May 26, 1997 Interview S.I.S.I.S. Talks to Native rights lawyer Bruce Clark about the Gustafsen Trial, the Seneca decision and his May 30 New York State Supreme Court Appearance for the Mohegan Nation. S.I.S.I.S.: What is your reaction to the Gustafsen Trial convictions? Clark: The jury had no choice but to find the way it did given the judge's instructions to them -- that they had to accept that these events took place on private property belonging to Lyle James, and that the province of British Columbia and the court had jurisdiction. The problem is that the law to the contrary -- that is the native law, international law and the constitutional law, putting the lie to the judge's position -- still has not been addressed. And the only conclusion one can reach in those circumstances is that the rule of law has not functioned. It is in a state of suspension. S.I.S.I.S.: Defence counsel Sheldon Tate said that "Clark and his cronies were the true malevolent forces in the crisis." What do you say to that? Clark: Depending upon what the law says, Sheldon Tate may be right or he may be wrong. The answer depends entirely upon looking at the native, international and constitutional law. My feeling remains that when this is done the legal advice that I have given will be vindicated. It would help, if Sheldon Tate disagrees with that position, that he provide an analysis of the law which would point out my error. S.I.S.I.S.: With reference to the Seneca nation -- are you aware of the recent court decision finding in favour of the Senecas? Clark: Yes. I'll be using that decision in a New York State Supreme Court on May 30th, involving the Mohegan Nation of New York state -- actually the descendants of the same people who were involved in the 1704 case [Mohegans v. Connecticut: after a protracted process, on 15 January 1773, the Privy Council in Great Britain in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction finally issued an order in council that had the effect of recognizing that the Mohegan Indians were "juristically regarded as sovereign." -- S.I.S.I.S.] They have a small Bingo operation in their Mohegan country and they were threatened with the same "storm-trooper" response as were the Senecas. They didn't proceed with the bingo in the face of the police threat that the whole town would be cordoned off. Now the Attorney General of New York has applied for an injunction to prevent the bingo from going ahead in the future. There's a show cause hearing on May 30th. What that means is that the judge has invited the Mohegans to inform the Court of the law which would indicate that state law should not be applied. And the Mohegans have accepted that invitation. We have filed with that Court the same essential law that was filed in the Gustafsen Lake case or that we attempted -- but still wasn't addressed in British Columbia. So now it may be addressed by the state of New York. And as part of the process, the decision that you've just identified by Judge Hon. Rose Sconiers will be filed, amongst other things, to persuade this judge to take the same kind of route and apply the same kind of reasoning: that the native sovereignty position at the very least is arguable -- and it's not appropriate, in the circumstances, for judges to be giving injunctions against the Indians by applying state law. That is, Judge Sconiers has taken the exact opposite position as the position consistently occupied by the judges of British Columbia. This is a bright light. S.I.S.I.S.: Where is this hearing and when again? Clark: New York State Supreme Court, Lake George, New York. Before a Judge Dyer at 9:30 am May 30. S.I.S.I.S.: Finally, is there the likelihood of appeals possible in the Gustafsen trial? Clark: Yes. The judge made rulings and gave orders to the jury to accept principles as decided by him as given. We will appeal against the legitimacy of his instructions to the jury. If they had acquitted, the legal contest would have died. As it now stands, the judge has made an appalling decision on the law . So far he hasn't supported it. It's conceivable he may come up with some rational basis... I don't imagine how he could, but he may pull a rabbit out of his hat... But when everything cools down, the permanent record that is left is going to make that judge and the BC Court system look like damn fools. At the end of the day, regardless of what the newspapers and the bellicose elements are saying, the fact remains that he [Judge Josephson] has made a decision at law which he does not even begin to be capable of backing. And that's demonstrable, from a permanent record point of view. So... I still have hope for the rule of law. That it's not over 'til its over... and its not over yet. Mohegan Court, Box 32, Granville, New York 12832 USA Telephone: (518) 642-2751 :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 ==>>NEW EMAIL : WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html SOVERNET-L is a news-only listserv concerned with indigenous sovereigntist struggles around the world. To subscribe, send "subscribe sovernet-l" in the body of an email message to For more information on sovernet-l, contact S.I.S.I.S. --------- "RE: Mole Lake Attacked" --------- Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 15:04:50 -0400 (EDT) From: FirehairSS@aol.com Subj: Mole Lake Attacked--please read now ------- FORWARD, Original message follows ------- For IEN notices/alerts >From Walt Bresette, Red Cliff Chippewa, (715) 779-5071 Saturday, May 24, 5 am PLEASE CIRCULATE to media and lists PEACEFUL MOLE LAKE PROTEST MET WITH VIOLENCE Supporters, Observers, Ogitchida Requested At 1:15 this morning, Saturday, May 24, a non-Indian private security force hired by Mole Lake Tribal Chair Arlyn Ackley attacked the tribal offices where tribal members have been staging a peaceful protest since May 1. Bill Koenen, a tribal environmental specialist, was beaten by the club- wielding security force. The Bingo Hall portion of the tribal offices was taken by security forces, but the tribal members remain in other portions of the building. Requests have been made from inside the building for supporters, Ogitchida, and others concerned with a peaceful resolution to this dispute to go to the Mole Lake Community in northeastern Wisconsin. "The private force, WisCo Security out of Merrill, Wisconsin, was joined by some local thugs fueled with some alcohol," said one eyewitness inside the building. At 4 am reports were that the tribal members were still inside the building and were refusing to be removed. "We are still here protecting the tribal records," said Koenen. People interested in a peaceful resolution of the dispute are urged to IMMEDIATELY call Vice Chairman Charles Fox at (715) 478-5048, Forest County Sheriff Wilson at (715) 478-3331, and the WisCo Security firm at (715) 536-8092. For more information, contact the tribal members at (715) 367-2902. For more background information on the dispute, and its relationship to the proposed Exxon mine, see http://www.alphacdc.com.ien/notices/html or call the Indigenous Environmental Network at (218) 751-4967 or (715) 779-5071. --------- "RE: Mole Lake Alerts" --------- Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 23:17:54 GMT From: andrea@scicom.alphacdc.com (Andrea Lord) Subj: MOLE LAKE ALERT Newsgroup: alt.native The following items are being forwarded by the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) for dissemination. Item No. 1: URGENT ALERT: MAY 17, 1997 EXXON DESTABILIZES CHIPPEWA COMMUNITY Witnesses/Observers Bail Funds Needed Letters and Calls Wanted On May 1, 1997 members of the Mole Lake Chippewa Reservation in northwestern Wisconsin began an occupation of their tribal administration offices charging wrongdoing and influence peddling by Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson and the Exxon Minerals Corporation who have a partnership with Canadian mining giant Rio Algom. Exxon/Rio Algom are midway through a permit to develop one of the largest metallic sulfide mines (2,000) feet deep shaft) next to the Mole Lake Chippewa Reservation, endangering their sacred wild rice beds, surrounding waters, and the entire Wolf River system. The grassroots tribal members are convinced that Exxon has already infiltrated their tribal administration and by occupying the tribal offices have declared NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL. They've called for a number of agencies to investigate these charges and to root out any undo and illegal influence affecting their survival. This action, while it has created some new interest in their concerns, remains extremely tense. The tribal government, ignoring their constitutional duty to hear the widespread complaints, have instead issued eviction notices and have filed charges of criminal trespass. Though no arrests have yet been made those inside have been summarily fired from their jobs and threats to take away personal property and land assignments have been issued. They ask that pressure be put on the Department of Interior, the Department of Justice and other agencies for a thorough investigation. Because of allegations of misuse of casino funds the National Indian Gaming Board is also investigation Mole Lake. Additional concerns of US EPA collusion is also surfacing. Please contact the following: * Tom LeClaire, DOJ Office of Tribal Justice - 633 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington DC 20531 PH: 202/616-3205 FAX: 202/514-7805 * Doris Popple, NIGA (Gaming Bd) : 202/632-7003 * Wisconsin Department of Justice, Gary Hamblin: 608/266-1671 * US EPA Office of Environmental Justice: 800/962-6215 * Dept. of Interior, BIA, Ashland WI 54806 - 715/682-4527 * Mole Lake Tribal Government, Rt. 1, Box 625, Crandon WI 54520 FOR MORE INFORMATION: * Midwest Treaty Network: Walt Bresette, PH/Fax: 715/779-5071 * Indigenous Environmental Network WEB SITE: http://www.alphacdc.com/ien (also see LINKS at IEN site for Midwest Treaty Network and Menominee Nation); E- mail: ien@igc.apc.org - phone 218/751-4967 FAX:218/751-0561. * Mole Lake Concerned Tribal Members: 715/367-2902 Item No. 2: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 1997 Walt Bresette, Red Cliff Lake Superior Chippewa TREATY LEGAL DEFENSE FUND TO BEGIN Because of the may tribal members who have taken direct action regarding treaty rights a Treaty Legal Defense Fund is needed. Such a fund, discussed at an Anishinabe Niijii meeting earlier this year, will be used in support of actions which move forward the protection of treaties or help clarify treaties as a tool to protect the environment of Ceded Territory. The fund's account will be set up in a local bank where people will be able to make direct deposits. Elders from Red Cliff and members of the Waub Ojeeg Institute for Cultural Preservation will temporarily oversee the accounting of these funds; a more permanent fund system will be established in the next months for Ceded Territory. Until then, people can send contributions to the Treaty Defense Fund c/o Walt Bresette, Route 1, Box 117, Bayfield, WI 54814 or phone 715/779-5071. WITNESSES NEEDED AT MOLE LAKE Because of increased tensions on the Mole lake Reservation, I call upon all sides to open direct dialogue, and to seek ways for a peaceful mediation and resolution of this situation. Until such avenues are opened there is a need for trained observers to monitor the situation so that no Mole Lake members or local citizens face hostile action. I urge trained witness for Non-violence members to make themselves available; they can contact me at the northern office of Witness for Non-violence, Route 1, Box 117, Bayfield WI 54814 or by calling 715/779-5071. Item No. 3: News Release May 9. 1997 by Walt Bresette Lake Superior Chippewa - Red Cliff MOLE LAKE OCCUPATION WILL STRENGTHEN ANTI-EXXON ALLIANCE The horses are out of the barn at Mole Lake. It's time to round them up, repair the barn door, and resume the battle against Exxon and their buddies who wish to turn northern Wisconsin into a mining district. The current struggle at Mole Lake has external factors and implications. All the charges leveled need to be aired and dealt with. It is premature to assign guilt or wrongdoing, but the charges must find a proper venue, not simply denied or covered-up. This unfortunate situation for the Mole Lake community should not blind the anti-Exxon allies from continuing the momentum forward. In the end, the airing of these charges will strengthen the alliance; to ignore them will weaken our resolve. Serious charges which may have compromised the Exxon permit process and the Mole Lake Air Quality permit need to be investigated. Potential undo influence over tribal leaders by the Thompson-Klauser administration needs to be clarified. And Mole Lake's leadership in the alliance needs to be restored. The charges against the Ackley administration, unless properly aired and resolved, contaminates the trust needed in the alliance. What some Mole Lake tribal members have done is express exasperation against what they believe is outside influence, bad internal policy and potential illegal activities. They also say their tribal government has refused to act on these concerns, so they took action themselves. This is not surprising, nor is it new; it happens regularly around Indian Country. What is surprising is that similar action didn't occur at the Wisconsin town of Nashville when Exxon held that building hostage, refusing to allow duly elected town members to take office. What is surprising is that despite Jim Klauser's well-known and documented influence peddling, state citizens have not reclaimed control over their government. So while we shouldn't rush to judgment against the Ackley Administration, let's not find those inside the building guilty either. Reports are surfacing that arrests may soon occur. By turning this simply into a law enforcement action ignores serious concerns. Usually where there is smoke, perhaps there's fire. While in a circle inside the building one (Mole Lake) elder spoke: "We have a short in our attic," he said, using a familiar metaphor. "Unless we find where it's at and repair it now, there will be a fire." I call upon the Mole Lake Tribal Council, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other appropriate agencies to help find the proper venues for the charges being raised by Mole Lake Members. I also call upon those inside to allow objective observers to document this situation. I ask any trained Witness for Non-Violence members to schedule time at Mole Lake. The stakes are too high for friends and neighbors to be silent; what happened at Madison, Town of Nashville and now Mole Lake and Lac du Flambeau foreshadows other communities in an era of influence peddling by deep-pocketed mining interests. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Indigenous Environmental Network P.O. Box 485 Bemidji, MN 56619 Ph: (218) 751-4967 Fax: (218) 751-0561 e-mail: ien@igc.apc.org web page: http://www.alphacdc.com/ien --------- "RE: Bear Speaks" --------- Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 18:51:00 -0700 (PDT) From: Christina Meckel Subj: BEAR SPEAKS (contains adult language) UUCP email Oct. 2, 1995 To Whom It May Concern Sheriff Tuso has called me a cowardly killer who needs to die for his crimes! I am sure Sheriff Tuso sees his men as being courageous and full of bravery. So Sheriff Tuso, was it bravery and courage that caused your men to throw my crippled mother to the ground and step on her back and then put an M-16 rifle to her head and tell her they are going to blow her fuckin' head off? Was it bravery that made your men put a gun to the head of my four year old niece? If anyone wants to know who the real cowardly killers are, just ask the people of the Round Valley Indian Reservation! As I sit here in the County Jail, I can't help but think of the real reason I am here, and that is to satisfy the law enforcement community-- Sheriff Tuso and his mighty men, the DA's office, the FBI and the rest of the State and County agencies. I did nothing wrong. I should not have to spend one day in jail. I am not being satisfied by being in jail and neither is my family or relations, or friends and supporters, or peoples of my tribes, throughout Northern CA. The courts are not ours. They belong to you, the law enforcement community. So get your satisfaction; get your day in court! There is no doubt in my mind that I will be acquitted. And once this ordeal is over, where do we get our satisfaction? Who will answer for the murder of our brother Leonard Acorn Peters? Sheriff Tuso believes he and his mighty men can come to our reservation and massacre our brother and not be held accountable. But I for one disagree! Signed, Peaceful Organic Vegetable Farmer Bear Lincoln Mendocino County Jail, Ukiah -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I spoke with Cyndi Pickett again this week. She said the trial is looking more like July 1st now. She also said anyone and everyone concerned with this is welcome to call her so call Cyndi 1-707-983-8033 and Write Bear!! 951 Low Gap RD Ukiah, CA 95482 AND FORWARD THIS TO 4 PEOPLE!! Thank you everyone for your attention on this matter- Christina Meckel Lonewolf lonewolf@pacific.net CLMeckel@hotmail.com --------- "RE: Covelo Indian Community" --------- Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 18:23:53 -0700 (PDT) From: Christina Meckel Subj: Release of 4/20/95, from Covelo Indian Community- a sovereign nation of confederated tribes UUCP email Round Valley Indian Reservation residents have been living in a state of terror due to the severe and illegal harassment suffered at the hands of the Mendocino Sheriff and other outside agencies investigating the shooting deaths of three peoples on the reservation earlier this week. Many households have felt it necessary to evacuate their children from the valley in fear of their safety and some families in remote areas are evacuating their homes entirely. Various Round Valley residents will be meeting with the American Civil Liberties Union, a representative of the BIA, and representatives from the FBI who will determine what action needs to be taken to address the unjust treatment and police misconduct inflicted on many innocent, uninvolved citizens of the Covelo area. Incidents of misconduct are as follow: 1) The family of the accused assailant was pulled from a pickup truck and had guns placed directly to their heads, including a five year old, a three year old, and two infants. The five year old asked the police man if he was going to shoot her. 2) The 65 year old crippled mother of the purported assailant was thrown to the ground and verbally and physically abused. She was severely bruised. 3) A grandmother stated to the police, as she was trying to obey their orders, that she was lame and could not walk fast. The police officer replied "I don't fucking care!" and pushed her to the ground. The police then broke out the windows of her home and fired shots into the home, hitting the cradleboard of one of the infants. 4) At least fifty homes have been searched with out warrants, and with guns drawn and cocked. This does not include the countless vehicles searched at gunpoint. THE 500 YEAR SEARCH FOR JUSTICE As of Oct. 1995 there are a number of criminal and civil cases pending surrounding the events of 4/95 1 Bear Lincoln is being held with out bail on capitol charges for the deaths of Leonard Acorn Peters and Deputy George Davis 2 A wrongful death suit has been filed by the family of Leonard Acorn Peters against Mendocino County. 3 A class action law suit has been filed regarding the blatant civil liberties violations inflicted upon the Round Valley community. 4 Arylis Peters is currently appealing in court for his right to with draw his "guilty" plea. What you can do: 1) Sign up on the mailing list to receive up dates: 707-468-1660/707-983-8098/707-983-8106 2) Donate any amount towards the Defence Fund Lincoln/Peters Defence Fund 106 W. Standley Street Ukiah, CA 95482 3) Write Bear Lincoln! The amount of mail he receives does make an impact! 951 Low Gap Road Ukiah, CA 95482 4) Inform yourself as to the history of the Northern California tribes and their current issues. 5) Forward this to four people! Thanks Christina Meckel Lonewolf lonewolf@pacific.net FREE THE BEAR!! Check it out! http://www.dickshovel.com/beara.html --------- "RE: Navajo Traditionals Forced to Sign" --------- Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 08:43:54 -0700 From: beanies4u Subj: 2000 Navajo Traditionals forced to sign Agreement UUCP email To: gars@netcom.com Put this in your news article!!!! 2,000 Navajo Traditionals forced to sign Agreement with Hopi Tribal Council which they say amounts to cultural genocide. For the 2,000 Navajo (Dineh) facing eviction from their ancestral homelands in Arizona, signing the so-called Accommodation Agreement (brokered by U.S. Senator John McCain, R. New Mexico, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Navajo and Hopi Tribal councils and their attorney who changed horses in the middle of the stream representing the people being evicted as well as being on the payroll of the Navajo Tribal Council. ), signing the agreement strips them of their religious freedom and civil rights, and amounts to cultural genocide. Under intense pressure from the federal government, the two tribal councils, and a multi-task force of BIA police, Hopi police rangers, and their own attorney, many of the suffering elder Dineh have capitulated and signed the agreement assuring that they would be able to continue living on their ancestral land under a lease agreement of 75 years by surrendering their sovereignty to the Hopi Tribal Council. Since the lease agreement only extends to the home-steader and not their descendants, the mostly elderly Dineh cannot expect to see 75 years of peace and harmony. With their homesteads shrunk to modest proportions and grazing lands for their sheep cut off by fences from traditional range and water, bordered by the Peabody Coal mine, the Dineh families that do choose to remain rather than relocate do so under protest. Threats and coercion have forced many to sign who had been resisting relocation for over twenty years. For those who have refused to sign, forced relocation could become a reality once the new relocation housing is completed on "the New Lands." This area borders the Rio Puerco River which suffered the country's most massive uranium spill when a dam broke at the defunct United Mines Uranium facility washing tons of radioactive tailings down the river affecting eleven existing Navajo communities and now, the area chosen for the relocation community. The relocation housing resembles a ticky-tacky suburban community set in the middle of nowhere, where traditional Navajo practices such as sheepherding and weaving will necessarily be abandoned. Their religious practices and medicine ways are tied to the land of their birth and will also be left behind. They will be trading a self- sufficient lifestyle for one in which they will have no jobs but will still be forced to pay taxes, utilities, etc. Their sacred hogans will be destroyed while they will live a life dictated by the dominant culture. As one Dineh, Louise Benally, has said, "Big Mountain is sacred land to us. More than 12,000 of our people have already been pushed off the land. We intend to resist non-violently until an alternative agreement is reached. This isn't about Hopi versus Navajo, it's about corporate greed and the struggle to protect our ancestral lands from mining operations that pillage the earth and destroy our communities." The land in question was formerly known as the "Joint Use Area," so designated by executive order of President Arthur for use of both the Hopi and Navajo. That changed in 1974 when U.S. Dist. Court Earl Carroll partitioned the land forcing the relocation of 12,000 Navajo and the 100 Hopi that lived there. The 250 families who refuse to move are the "resisters" who are now at the center of the 23-yr. long dispute. According to Bureau of Indian Affairs and Department of Interior documents, the U.S. government created tribal councils in the 1920's and 30's to act as front groups to facilitate the approval of mining leases on Hopi and Navajo lands. Mining revenues now account for 50% of the Navajo Tribal Council's budget and 80% of the Hopi Tribal Council's budget. Peabody Western Coal Company currently operates the world's largest coal mine at Black Mesa (bordering the land being cleared of people and livestock). Many believe that expansion of this mine is what is behind the latest drive to evict the remaining 2,000 Navajo residents at Big Mountain. A 1974 Washington Post article revealed that Peabody and its P.R. firm Evans and Sons, (under direction of Attorney John Boyden who represented Peabody), fabricated an inter-tribal dispute to convince the U.S. government that they had to step in and straighten things out. Thus, partition rather than joint use was decreed. Since the Hopi live miles away on top of their three mesas where they are engaged in ceremonials year-round, this effectively clears the land for further exploitation. The current ploy to get rid of the Navajo, the "Accommodation Agreement" was drafted by all the forces arrayed against them and touted as a wonderful settlement but, in fact, forces the residents into a Catch-22 situation. Under the settlement the Navajo Tribal Council abandons their own people to a hostile Hopi Tribal Council, making the Dineh subject to a council that wishes them gone and has the right to evict them. Also, by putting forth the agreement, the U.S. government absolves itself of litigation brought against them by the Hopi and the original litigation the Dineh resisters brought based upon their Freedom of Religion rights. The people on the land have requested assistance in the form of prayers, donations, material support and direct support on the land (sheepherding, etc.) They need everything, especially transportation and communication devices. Witnesses with video cameras are needed for documentation. Please go prepared to be self-sufficient. For more information: Sovereign Dineh Nation - Dineh Alliance (505) 371-5551 Louise Benally, P.O. Box 2889. Window Rock, Az. 86515 dineh@primenet.com www.primenet.com/~dineh/index.html Sovereign Dineh Nation (520) 522-8683 Roberta Blackgoat, Chair P.O. Box 1042 Flagstaff, Az 86003 sdn@primenet.com www.primenet.com/~sdn/ Call President Clinton's Comment Line: 202-456-1111 Fax: (202) 456-2461 --------- "RE: Goose Bay Expansion" --------- Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 16:12:12 -0300 From: Larry Innes Subj: GOOSE BAY EXPANSION: DND's VISION FADING? Mailing List: INNU-L GOOSE BAY EXPANSION: DND's VISION FADING? Details of Allied plans for training activity at Goose Bay in the 1997 flying season once again show no signs of the projected expansion towards 18,000 sorties a year. DND has never officially revised the position in the 1994 EIS that activity levels less than 18,000 sorties a year are not considered economically viable. Details of each nation's planned activity were revealed in an article in The Labradorian on 31 March. According to the article, the Allies are planning to fly a total of 7200 sorties this season, compared to 6500 actually flown in 1996. Flight cancellations due to bad weather are likely to reduce the actual number flown in 1997 to a level similar to 1996. It is now clear that neither the French, the Italians or the Belgians will now join the Memorandum of Understanding. Apart from a one-week visit by a French AWACS radar plane, there will be no presence by any of these nations at Goose Bay in 1997. All three have been affected by budget constraints. The Belgian Air Force, unable to support more than one deployment to North America in each year, is sending its F-16s to Cold Lake Alberta this year rather than Goose Bay. Their 1998 deployment may be to Nevada rather than Goose Bay. The RAF started the flying season this year with arrival of their usual nine aircraft detachment of Tornados on 1st April. The RAF will also be deploying Harriers to Goose Bay, in September, but these will take the place of the Tornados, rather than be present concurrently. The Tornados are expected to leave Goose Bay for a substantial part of the flying season, to carry out training in Nevada and elsewhere in North America. The Harriers can be expected to practise night low level flying using infra-red sensors and night vision goggles. This may include night activity, including forward air control training, at the PTA. RAF Hercules transports are also said to be expected during the flying season rather than in their normal deployment period in mid-winter. The German Air Force was scheduled to arrive in the first week of April, and as before will be the biggest user of the Goose Bay facilities, with 3 Transall transports, 12 Tornados and 18 F-4s. The Dutch Air Force programme is similar to last year's, running from 21 April to 4 October. Canadian Forces training at Goose Bay is once again at a low level this year, with only four small training detachments of CF-18s due over the season. 1997 activity levels are therefore further evidence that Allied flying training at Goose Bay is unlikely ever to reach even half the sortie rates predicted by DND, and around which the wildlife and resource users' avoidance programme was designed. For the Innu, the major significance of this is that an avoidance programme designed to accommodate twice as many flights could, arguably, have larger avoidance areas without the safety or quality of training being affected. --------- "RE: TTT Policy" --------- Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 16:35:47 -0400 From: "elaine flattery" Subj: "TTT" policy UUCP email "TTT" (Termination-Thru-Taxation) American Indians in Danger in 1997 Twenty five years ago, American indian people found documents in Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) offices Washington, DC which revealed a secret "termination" policy. "Termination" would illegally end constitutionally- mandated treaty responsibilities and obligations of health (IHS), education, and welfare (GA) to indigenous nations by the u.s. gov't. This illegal plot was delayed until the year 2000, however, due to the liberation attempt of "Wounded Knee", 1851 Treaty Territories ("south Dakota") by the Oglala Lakota and AIM. Currently, "governor's alliance conferences" hold sessions devising "termination strategies" against Indian nation territories which their "states" wish to consume - all in violation of Article I and VI of the U.S. Constitution. The "Termination-Thru-Taxation" Policy; 1) unilaterally relegates "tribes" to "county/city status" under "state governors" through the anti-treaty "gaming act of 1988." 2) relegates federal treaty obligation goods and services (including illegal attempts to transform IHS to HMO's) to "states" for distribution, illegally relinquishing federal treaty responsibility and drawing "tribes" closer to "state jurisdiction." "Termination" means no more jobs at the "tribal hall, smoke shop, treatment center or casino." State jurisdiction is the result of termination, which would make it difficult - if not impossible - for Indian people (who would then be "just american citizens") to pay "yearly state tax" on each acre of land, forcing them to sell to the "state" and creating a mass exodus of starving Indigenous children to reservation border towns to live in shanties. Under state jurisdiction, "open fires" would not be allowed for American Indian ceremonies (for instance south Dakota) due to "fire hazard danger" a racist governor would implement. 3) forces/coerces "tribes" into paying taxes on casino, cigarette and fuel profits in blatant violation of Article I of the Constitution. In 1996, a congress bill was very nearly signed by Clinton which would have attempted to tax Indian nations 40% of each casino profit dollar. Fortunately, Dole and McCain (republicans) removed the tax language out of the bill just prior to its passage. Clinton narrowly escaped "Genocide Act" violation charges - punishable by a million dollar fine and life in prison - which Johnnie Cochran (O.J.) was prepared to file at a press conference on Mt. Rushmore had Clinton authorized this illegal tax. Your support to expose "TTT" to the American people who wish to have their Constitution honored and who will prevent government officials from continuing Constitution violations and further crimes of genocide against indigenous red nations and peoples is crucial. If you can assist this effort, please contact Scott Barta (712) 277-2235. --------- "RE: Bumpy Road to Hawaiian Independence" --------- Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 11:07:43 -1000 (HST) From: Scott Crawford Subj: Bumpy Road to Hawaiian Independence - Kanahele to be tried again Mailing List: Taino-L FOR RELEASE--May 23, 1997 Contact: Rolf Nordahl Distribute freely! (808) 921-8294 Rolf@MacMouse.com Bumpy and Gordon may go on trial again! Another stop on the Bumpy road to independence HONOLULU--The Hawaii district court (federal) is expected to set a date this morning for the second trial of Dennis K. Kanahele and Gordon Ka`aihue on the same charges (hindering and harboring) from an indictment dated August 2, 1995. That trial ended in a mistrial October 31, 1995. Background from the Washington Law Review Vol. 71:379, 1996 By William H. Rodgers, Jr. "III. THE CASE OF UNITED STATES V. DENNIS "BUMPY" KANAHELE: A LEGAL ANTHROPOLOGY On August 2, 1995, the defendant Kanahele was indicted (together with co-defendant Gordon Kaaihue) and charged by a District of Hawaii grand jury with interfering with a police officer, a misdemeanor; and two felonies-harboring a fugitive and interfering with a United States Marshal while he was engaged in his official duty. Kanahele was held for three and a half months without bail, and eventually was brought to trial before District Judge Helen Gillmor. A mistrial was declared on October 31, 1995 (Halloween), amidst newspaper speculation about "jury misconduct" and even "tampering," as one of the jurors fell victim to the belief that a little independent research on the meaning of the Fourth Amendment was bound to be an improvement on anything he was likely to hear from the presiding judge. Subsequently, after 118 days in prison, Kanahele was released on bail by order of District Judge David Ezra. Government prosecutors have expressed an intention to seek convictions at a new trial in 1996." Entire article is online at: http://hawaii-nation.org/rodgers.html More information including historical background, reply briefs and the petition for rehearing are online at: http://MacMouse.Com/FreeBumpy The website also features an interactive forum for discussion, mail address and email addresses for support. More detailed background, news articles, and statements of support are online at: http://hawaii-nation.org/political_prisoner.html Supporters may send checks or money orders to: Bumpy Kanahele Defense Fund 134 Kapahulu Avenue, #1005 Waikiki, Hawaiian Islands Postal Zone 96815 For further information: Rolf@MacMouse.Com Send Bumpy E-Mail at: Puuhonua@Hawaii-Nation.org Bumpy Pu'uhonua Kanahele is widely recognized as the leader of the Hawaiian independence movement. These charges, intended to discredit Bumpy and the movement, could backfire on the prosecutors, marshals and judges and instead expose their efforts to silence him. Rodgers says in his: "V. CONCLUSION The Kanahele case is a shining example of the sense of justice at work in human affairs. Kanahele was prosecuted because he threatened the authorities, defected from the group, offended the elite, alienated his peers, and tarnished the reputations of officials. But what makes the U.S. courts the envy of the world is that people who come there expect to see justice happen. The same sense of justice that drove this case can be turned on its managers, and what do we find? Trumped-up charges and self-deceptions by a bunch of nervous authorities who are protecting their status and reputations by manipulating the laws of the greatest democracy the world has ever seen." The trial and the independence issue are attracting national attention. The ABA (American Bar Association) Journal features a story in their June, 1997 (current) issue entitled: "GREETINGS FROM 'INDEPENDENT' HAWAII By James Podgers A drive to gain some measure of self-government for Hawaii's native population raises questions about whether the state might ever break off from the union..." This description is found at the ABA website: http://www.abanet.org/journal/jun97/home.html You can get the magazine to read the whole story. The ABA Journal goes to its members--attorneys, including most politicians. We will forward it and post it to the web when we have an electronic version. The Journal is among the most influential magazines in the world. The ABA website is at: http://www.abanet.org/home.html Bumpy's defense team seeks to make the facts of the case public to enable greater understanding of these "...nervous authorities..." and how their efforts are intended more to chill and deter independence activists than to prosecute crime. This trial is important to all people who call Hawai'i home and vital to the soverignty and independence of Kanaka Maoli with implications for all indigenous peoples of the world. The outcome of the second trial of Dennis K. Kanahele and Gordon Ka`aihue will set the tone for the future of independence. ___________________________________________________________ | Hawai`i - Independent & Sovereign | | info@hawaii-nation.org http://hawaii-nation.org/ | |___________________________________________________________| "The cause of Hawaii and independence is larger and dearer than the life of any man connected with it. Love of country is deep- seated in the breast of every Hawaiian, whatever his station." - Queen Lili`uokalani --------- "RE: Logging Bill Alert" --------- Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 23:21:36 -0800 From: Headwaters News Subj: ALERT: Salvage logging bill could close loophole... UUCP email HEADWATERS ACTION ALERTS Week of May 19, 1997 ____________ ACTION #1 SALVAGE LOGGING BILL UP FOR FLOOR VOTE BY NEXT WEEK Background: Under state regulations the Pacific Lumber Company has been able to perform salvage logging in the unprotected ancient groves of Headwaters Forest, unchecked by standard environmental review. This allows Pacific Lumber to skirt the normal environmental review attached to standard logging plans, and remove up to 10 percent of the timber in sensitive endangered species habitat, without public and state oversight. Pacific Lumber has already exploited the salvage logging loophole to log in the Headwaters Forest's ancient groves. California State Assemblyman Ted Lempert has introduced a bill to rectify this destructive loophole and protect the state's remaining old- growth forests. Thanks to the efforts of activists who wrote letters and called our key targets, the bill has already passed two important committees! AB 1313 could be heard on the Assembly floor as early as next Monday, May 26. If you are in California, please contact the key decision-makers on this piece of legislation as detailed on the accompanying alert. If we keep pressure on, we have a chance to win the floor vote. Please contact your Assembly Member, and the critical swing votes listed below, to urge support of AB 1313, before the end of this week (May 23). Circulate this alert to other lists and contacts you have around the state. TALKING POINTS: This bill would prevent the current abuse of the salvage logging provision within sensitive old-growth areas, particularly in the North Coast forest district, including Headwaters Forest. The bill will simply require reasonable environmental and public review of any proposed salvage operations in the affected district. TOP PRIORITY CONTACTS (The following abstained from committee vote -- need extra pressure!): Brooks Firestone (Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties) 101 W. Anaparnu St, Suite A Santa Barbara CA 93101 805-965-1994 | fax 805- 965-2046 Joe Baca (San Bernadino County) 201 N. "E" St., Rm. 102 San Bernadino, CA 92401 909-885-2222 | fax 909-888-5959 916-445-7454 HIGH PRIORITIES: Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante (Fresno, Tulare Counties) 209-445-5532, 916-445-8514 | fax 209-445-6006 Tom Torlakson (Contra Costa County) 815 Estiudillo St. Martinez CA 94553 510-372-7990 | fax 372-0934 916-445-7890 | fax 327-2999 Denise Moreno-Ducheny (San Diego County) 2414 Hoover Ave, suite A National City CA 91950 619-477-7979 | fax 477-0207 916- 445-7556 | fax 322-2271 OTHER KEY VOTES NEEDED: Mike Machado (San Joaquin County) Stockton CA 95202 209-948-7479 | fax 465-5058 916-445-7931 Dennis Cardoza (all of Merced, part of San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties) Turlock CA 95380 209-669-6115 | fax 669-0349 916-445-8570 Louis Caldera (Los Angeles County) Los Angeles CA 90013 213-680-4646 | fax 680-1851 916-445-4843 | fax 443-6812 Edward Vincent (Los Angeles County) Inglewood CA 90306 310-412-6400 | fax 412-6354 916-445-7533 | fax 327-3517 REINFORCEMENTS AND THANK YOUs: Thank the following for their support, and urge them to continue their support. Michael Sweeney (Democratic Caucus Leader) (Alameda County) 22320 Foothill Boulevard, suite 130 Hayward CA 94541 510-581-1818 | fax 510-581-1053 Tony Cardenas 9140 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 109 Panorama City CA 91402 818- 894-3671 | fax 818- 894-4672 Kerry Mazzoni Marin City Civic Center 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 335 San Rafael CA 94903 415-479-4920 | fax 415- 479-2123 ___________ ACTION #2 BUDGET FOLLOW-UP In the wake of the recent budget agreement described in this week's alert, we need to send President Clinton the message that we appreciate the administration's effort to fulfill the federal side of the agreement for the 7,500-acre parcel of the 60,000-acre Headwaters Forest. However, we must stress that limiting protection to that fraction of the forest will merely be protection of a dying fragment of a larger, vulnerable ecosystem, and he needs to continue to pursue strategies to ultimately protect the entire 60,000-acre forest. The White House Comment Line is 202-456-1111. _________________________________________________________ Sent by the Headwaters Sanctuary Project and Bay Area Action. Repost at will -- Please include all attributions & contact info. www.enews.org | mark@enews.org _________________________________________________________ ----> TO SUBSCRIBE Send a message to listproc@envirolink.org with only the following in the body: subscribe Headwaters YourFirstName YourLastName CompanyOrOrganization Replace the appropriate words with your name and any affiliation. Note: You must send from the account at which you wish to receive messages. ----> TO UNSUBSCRIBE Send a message to listproc@envirolink.org with only the following in the body: unsubscribe Headwaters Note: You must send from the same account from which you first subscribed. --------- "RE: Council on Historic Preservation" --------- Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 16:51:49 -0500 From: John Berry Subj: (FWD)Advisory Council on Historic Preservation *****PRESS RELEASE*****PRESS RELEASE*****PRESS RELEASE***** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 1997 TWO CONSULTATION MEETINGS ANNOUNCED BY THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has announced two Native American consultation meetings on proposed changes to its regulations, the Protection of Historic Properties (36 CFR Part 800), which implement the requirements of section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The Advisory Council's regulations govern the process federal agencies and project sponsors use to identify important historic, archaeological sites, and culturally significant places (including sacred sites), evaluate impacts to such places, and, if impacts are identified, develop acceptable means to avoid, minimize or mitigate them. The Advisory Council has been working on revisions to its regulations since 1992, when the National Historic Preservation Act was amended to make Native Americans and tribal governments equal partners in national historic preservation program, including the processes covered by the Advisory Council's regulations. Until these two meetings were scheduled, however, the Advisory Council had made no real effort to consult with Native Americans or tribal governments in developing the draft revisions. Advisory Council staff expect to have draft regulations ready for consideration at the next full meeting of the Advisory Council on June 19-20. "These two meetings are very important to tribal governments and Native Americans who are interested in protecting their heritage from the effects of federal projects. These meetings are likely to be the only opportunity they get to consult on these matters before the full Advisory Council meets to consider whether or not to adopt the proposed revisions," said Alan Downer, Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Officer. These meetings represent an opportunity for tribes to be heard on these crucial issues. A copy of the the ACHP letter inviting comments on the proposed regulations, which also announces the two consultation meetings, is attached. Further information may be obtained directly from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Please contact Claudia Nissley at (303)969-5110. --------- "RE: Protect What is Ours" --------- Date: Sat, 10 May 1997 20:58:02 -0400 From: "DS Adonaset Fort" Subj: Protect What is Ours Mailing List: Taino-L Oyea, Tau Natiaos, Guatiaos It is an honor that you allow me to speak and to tell the stories that have no beginning and have no end. Allowing each of us to speak is a tradition that we should cherish as did our ancestors. We have spoken sometimes with fire and sometimes with sorrow about the cultural and spiritual rape that we are experiencing at the hands of the 'others', and we are right to do so, and we must continue to resist by speaking with fire and sorrow and with action if necessary. Brothers and Sisters if we lose these things then we have nothing and we end up 'as' nothing. This is the objective of some of the 'others', but they have never prevailed over our spirit and they never will IF we continue to resist. Our ceremonies, sacred objects, identity, and stories are not trinkets, not costumes for 'playing' they "are" the People and all thieves should be made aware that they can not steal our identity without feeling our wrath. My father was a dream talker and teller of stories as was his father, and his father before him. The stories are just as precious as any artifact and are an important part of many ceremonies. The 'others' may hear but the Creator did not give them reasoning to understand because they are our stories. Yet, they steal the stories claim them for their own, and try to deceive us with stories created in their own minds. The stories must be told with respect and how can they respect our ancestors as we do? They do not understand our stories - but we do understand theirs, theirs is intended to deceive and are based on lies, racism and hate. Our stories can only be told and understood if told and heard with love and truth. The stories tell our children who we are and it tells how the Creator brought all things to be. They teach us about our ancestors, creation, one-legged and four-legged brothers, the true meaning of courage, wisdom, understanding, unity, laughter, tears, hope, dignity, respect, and harmony. The stories are passed from one generation to the next. They came to us from the creator, from Brothers and Sisters of wisdom, ancestors, and dreams. If a story comes from a dream, and the dreamer tells the story and then the story is mocked what is really being mocked? Is it the story? Is it the dreamer? Is it the giver of the dream? In the dream the dreamer is told "these are my words, do not forget them" My father, and grandfather and great-grand-father have said this to me many times. When the stories are treated with disdain and misunderstanding then it is not the teller of the story that is being insulted but rather it is the ancestors and the giver of the dreams and those that understand the story that receive the insult. The others can dress, talk, eat, and act like Indians but - like the pot that was made without ever touching the fire their lies will not endure. We will know what is real because we are the vessels that has been hardened by the flames and they are the clay pots that has been molded only in their minds. They are pliable and weak - we are firm and strong. We, who have nothing - share everything but for the 'others' , having nothing is excuse to steal. A true warrior is known by his courage and a true story will be known by its truth. Brothers and Sisters, protect what belongs to the People. You must protect the stories as you would protect the rest of our culture. Adonaset Walk in Harmony adonaset@radix.net --------- "RE: A Hundred Years Ago" --------- Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 01:25:59 -0700 From: Landis Subj: History - A Hundred Years Ago - Week 4 (Memorial Day) Mailing List: NAT-FILM THE INDIAN HELPER ==================================== PRINTED EVERY FRIDAY --AT THE-- Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa., BY INDIAN BOYS. ---> THE INDIAN HELPER is PRINTED by Indian boys, but EDITED by The man-on-the band-stand who is NOT an Indian. --------------------------------------------- P R I C E: --10 C E N T S A Y E A R ============================================= Entered in the P.O. at Carlisle as second class mail matter. ============================================= Address INDIAN HELPER, Carlisle, Pa. Miss M. Burgess, Manager. ============================================= Do not hesitate to take the HELPER from the Post Office for if you have not paid for it some one else has. It is paid for in advance. ============================================== VOL. XII. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1897 NUMBER 33 ============================================== WHO IS ZINTKA LANUNI? _______ About six years ago there was a terrible war between the United States and the Sioux Indians. On the most famous battlefield of that war the writer travelled only the year before in her visitations to Indian camps for pupils for Carlisle. It is not worth while to go into the details of the so-called Sioux outbreak, nor speak as to the cause of it, but one day when the soldiers were thick among the bluffs at Wounded Knee and orders had been issued for disbanding Bigfoot's band, the Indians could stand it no longer, and a medicine man throwing a handful of earth into the air gave the signal for the warriors to fire. The United States troops, Custer's old regiment, under command of Colonel Forsythe, charged back, and after the battle was over nothing that wore a blanket was alive. The slaughter of the Indians was terrific. The next day a terrible blizzard set in, and for four days the dead were left alone in the ravine where the battle had waged. On the fourth day a little babe was discovered nestled in the arms of its dead mother. A bullet had killed the mother, but as she fell she had gathered her blanket closely about the child. This with the heavy covering of snow, had kept the babe warm. It was almost perished from hunger, but soon rallied when placed in the care of some Indian women. As the woman crooned over it and slowly nursed it back to life they constantly wailed, "Zintka Lanuni," meaning "poor lost bird." Colonel Colby and wife, who have no family, were touched by the incident, and as the parents of the babe, had both perished in the battle, they brought the little one to their home, and for six years little Zintka has been cared for with devotion by her foster parents. The blanket and little bonnet worn by the baby are treasured possessions of Mrs. Colby. The little bonnet had been wrought with great skill by the mother. It is soft leather, exquisitely worked with colored beads in geometrical patterns, and with a special design on either side of a United States flag. Mrs. Colby states that she never looks at the two little flags, wrought with so much skill by the poor Indian mother, without a feeling of intense sadness that a United States bullet should have entered one loyal life. "The little flags, if nothing else," Mrs. Colby says, "would make little Zintka dear to us." The training of the little one, and her education will be watched with interest. Belonging to a tribe that has proved itself almost unconquerable, the development of the child with civilized surroundings will in the future have weight. Zintka attends kindergarten now, and the differences between her and other little ones have not yet been marked enough for comment. In disposition at home and in the kindergarten she is extremely affectionate, willful, but amenable to reason. Mrs. Colby is one of the prominent officials of the National Woman's Suffrage Association and editor of "The Woman's Tribune," the organ of the body. Her home is in Beatrice, Nebr.,though her duties call her frequently to Washington, D.C. ------------------------------------------------ Invitations for Dickinson College Commencement Exercises have been received, and the program for the week beginning Saturday June 5th, has a very promising and interesting look. We see by the "Laramie Boomerang" that Donald Campbell is playing first violin in the Lowell Literary Society Orchestra of the Wyoming University. They gave a public entertainment of the 30th of the month. -[The Indian Guide. A part of to-morrow's ceremonies will be sad. Many are the fathers, brothers, cousins and friends who fell in battle. The weird funeral march, and the viewing of the graves of loved ones will call to mind the days when they were with the living. The Senior Class held a meeting in Miss Cutter's room last Friday evening for the purpose of forming a class organization. The following officers were elected: President, Edw. Peterson; Vice-President, Sarah Flynn; Secretary and Treasurer, Lillie Complainville; Reporter, Caleb Sickles: Executive Committee: Edythe Pierce, David McFarland and Cora Cornelius. Miss Shaffner brought Marie Marmom from her country home this week. She had an attack of pneumonia, and is still weak from it, but she has been examined critically by our physician and pronounced safe. While out, Miss Shaffner saw 25 of the girls who are in country homes and says she found them all doing well and very happy in their work and surroundings. One little girl not well enough, we thought, to earn more than her board has improved so much and done so well that her country mother is going to pay her wages. The girls have found that work does not hurt them. They are rather proud to be able to take upon themselves the womanly responsibilities of housekeeping. The idea that our girls go out to be ladies and only to have good times while getting the benefits of change of air and diet is erroneous. They do have good times but they go out to WORK and they are not ashamed to own it. Mr. Weber came near having a very serious accident on Monday morning. Greenbird attempted to lift a bucket of whitewash over a high picket fence to Mr. Weber who stood the other side looking up with hands reaching out to receive it. The bucket caught on the picket and the entire contents were emptied into Mr. Weber's face and eyes. He felt for a time that he should go insane with the burning pain. Rushing to the horse-trough, which fortunately was near, he doused his head and face therein, washing off the thick, and then went to the hospital, where his face was carefully cleaned and thoroughly anointed with olive oil. He was about his work soon after, having lost not more than an hour or two. At English Speaking meeting on Saturday night, Mr. Standing told us more about the Tennessee Exposition. The Art Building, an exact reproduction of the old Parthenon in Greece was described and pronounced one of the most imposing and interesting buildings on the grounds. As a side story he told of an educated horse which is attracting a great deal of attention, and closed with suggestions for serious thought upon the negro problem of the United States. James Flannery went to Newville last week to play his cornet in an orchestra at their High School Commencement. Vacation is in sight. May entertainment this week. The store-house was painted this week. A joke -- Miss Ericson has sold her wheel. Shelah, who was not well a few weeks ago, is looking better. The guard house is occupied by a boarder, the first for a long time. The art class is doing some beautiful pastel work in colors, these days. George Suis who has had a serious attack of pneumonia is still very ill. Capt. Timothy Henry, of Company E (class '96) has gone to the country to take a turn at farming. Miss Cummins spent Saturday on the Battle Field of Gettysburg. Where there is a will there is a way. Capt. and Mrs. Pratt spent Saturday and Sunday in Washington, D.C. The Captain was summoned before a special committee of the Senate, making inquiries into the Civil Service. Frank Hudson is acting disciplinarian in Mrs. Thompson's absence. The space in front of the laundry is filled in and sown with grass seed. Now Misses Bowersox and Hill can put on a bold front. In fitting up the new laundry a steam kettle was placed for making soap, which is now being used, and barrels of old fat are being turned into excellent soap. The potatoes are not much above ground, but find the same old bugs standing in line waiting for something to eat. The enemy of the potato bug, however, is the Indian boy who picks for ten cents a quart. --------------------------------------------- SATURDAY'S GAME. .............. A Big Score in Favor of the Indians. .............. On Saturday, at noon, the large Herdic went to the station and brought out to the school the baseball team of Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, who had defeated the Indians by a score of 5 to 3 at Gettysburg a few weeks before. The Gettysburg men were received with open arms by the Indians, for didn't we intend to send them back with heads down over a defeat? So in everything outside the game special attention was given the visiting team, who proved themselves, all through, gentlemen of the first class. The game was called at 2 o'clock, and a good crowd consisting of town people and home folk were enthusiastic with expectancy. The Indians took first bat and scored 6 runs. Gettysburg did not get a run until the 6th inning, and that was the only one they got, while the Indians ran up a score of 27. The players on our side were as follows: Frank Hudson, Captain and 1b., Jacob Jamison, p., Hawley Pierce, c., George Shelafo, ss., Wallace Miller, 3b., Artie Miller, cf., Chauncy Archiquette, lf., Christian Eastman, 2bl, Jonas Mitchell, rf. THE SCORE BY INNINGS. Indians . . . . . . . . 6 0 4 0 3 3 5 5 1 -27 Gettysburg. . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 -1 -------------------------------------- REMARKS AROUND THE LINE AS THE GAME PROGRESSED ................. What's the matter with Captain Hudson? He's all right. Who's all right? Hudson, because he's frank. What's the reason we are going to beat the enemy? Because we have the right man to shell-a-foe. Why should Jamison be called a Pine Knot? Because he's full of pitch. But why can he hold lots of lemonade? Because he is a first class pitcher. Why should Hawley Pierce be able to get a good wife? Because he is big enough to catcher. What does the Indian team want with two Millers? To grind and saw. Grind what? Grind pencil points for the score men. Saw what? Saw saw-dust for the saw-dust bags. Why should Archiquette be called "Flour and Eggs?" Because he makes a good batter. What's the matter with Christian Eastman? He's all right. But he is a Christian, and steals! What does he steal? He steals bases. Who is Marshall? He's the side line man who "marshals" his forces to start the yells. Yah! Yah! Why do the Indians have that man Clark for umpire? Because he's a smith and hits the decisions with a sledge-hammer squareness. What's the matter with Gettysburg? Oh, the geese they ate laid too many eggs for a good looking score. Why was it so cool on the side lines? The Gettysburg men fanned the air with their bats. Why would the Gettysburg team make good workmen in a ship yard? Because they have so many pitchers. ============================= - Submitted by Barbara Landis ____________________________________________________________________________ by NAT-FILMgroup, UNAT & UNITED Native American Television Broadcast Council Ask about the NAT-IMATION native language vcr/TV/web group--> Info@UNAT.org --------- "RE: Poem: Mr. Government" --------- Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 03:13:12 -0400 From: Larry Kibbey Subj: *Mr. Government* UUCP email *Mr. Government* Mr. Government, Look at my Forest, Clearcut for corporate America. Unnecessary destruction, And the environment is dying. Mr. Government, Look at my river and streams, Polluted by Corporate America. Unnecessary destruction, And the environment is dying. Mr. Government, Look at my mountains and valleys, Destroyed by Corporate America. Unnecessary destruction, And the environment is dying. Mr. Government, Look at my four-legged and winged relations, Murdered by Corporate America. Unnecessary destruction, And the environment is dying. Mr. Government, Look at my aquatic life, Polluted and destroyed by corporate America. Unnecessary destruction, And the environment is dying. Mr. Government, Look at our reservations, Destroyed by you, society, and corporate america. Unnecessary destruction, Of the culture and belief's, Of the Indian people, The Sovereign Nations Of nen, women and children, Old and young, Ties to the environment, All dying in the name of greed. By ================================================== = Larry Kibby - kibbey@sierra.net = = Elko Indian Colony = = Western Shoshone Historic Preservation Society = = 1581 Pinenut Circle, Elko, Nevada 89801 = = Phone: (702) 738-4147 Fax: (702) 738-7070 = ================================================== --------- "RE: Verse: Hawaiian Book of Days" --------- Date: Sun, 18 May 97 02:51:00 GMT From: dfsanders@genie.com Subj: Hawaiian Book of Days UUCP email A HAWAIIAN BOOK OF DAYS, week of June 1-7 IUNE (June) (Kaaona) June was the time when the fishermen got their a-ei nets in readiness for catching the opelu, procuring in advance the sticks to use for keeping its mouth open. 1 To walk between the islands is a secret of the ancients. 2 Summer rain is illuminated by the beauty of a rainbow. 3 Time is little more than a kiss of wind upon the land. 4 The lullabies of night creatures sing me to my dreams. 5 To the youthful heart, the whole world is filled with wonder. 6 The fragrance of summer blossoms pervades my dreams. 7 Waste nothing -- use every gift the land gives you. (c) Copyright 1991 by D. F. Sanders Me ke aloha i ka nani, ... Moe'uhanekeanuenue (With love and beauty, ... Rainbow Dream) --------- "RE: Conferences and Powwows - offline" --------- Date: Thu, 29 May 97 08:00 -0500 From: Janet Smith (evestar@juno.com) Subj: Upcoming conferences and powwows not previously posted to Mailing List NATIVE-L UUCP email Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 12:11:46 -0700 From: Nicholas Wilson Subj: Rally Marks 7th Anniversary of Bari Bombing Justice for Judi Bari c/o Redwood Summer Justice Project P0 Box 14720, Santa Rosa, CA 95402 Contact: Dennis Cunningham 415-285-8091; Alicia Littletree 707-459-1466; Betty/Gary Ball 707-468-1660; Tanya Brannan 707-528-9043 For Immediate Release May 23 Rally on 7th Anniversary of Car Bombing is the First Since Bari's Death FBI Scandal Coverage has yet to include Bari Bombing Case Earth First! activists and other defenders of civil rights will gather on Friday, May 23, 1997 at noon in front of the FBI offices at the Federal Building, 1301 Clay Street in Oakland, California. The event will offer a retrospective of law enforcement mishandling of the Bari bombing case, which is even more timely in light of recent FBI scandals. The press conference and rally will be the first involving the case since the March 2 death of Earth First! activist Judi Bari. Media reports have revealed that in the high profile FBI cases of Ruby Ridge, the Olympic bombing, and even the Oklahoma City bombing, FBI misconduct and ineptitude have abounded. Yet these front page reports have not included the most outrageous of recent examples of FBI malfeasance--that surrounding the May 24, 1990 car bombing of Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney. Recent revelations of wrongdoing at the FBI's crime lab have focused intense criticism on the agency and the integrity of its investigations. In the Bari case, Oakland Police claim it was FBI Special Agent David R. Williams who told them that nails in the bomb matched those found in Bari's house in an attempt to link the activists to the bomb. In fact, evidence shows that no incriminating match of nails was possible, and the investigators were well aware of that fact. Williams is one of three lab experts transferred from their jobs following the Inspector General's finding that the FBI crime lab regularly distorted and manipulated scientific evidence to support the prosecution's position in court cases. Bari and fellow Earth First! activist Darryl Cherney have a six-year-old lawsuit against the FBI and Oakland Police for civil rights violations surrounding the car-bomb assassination attempt. These law enforcement agencies falsely arrested Bari and Cherney for transporting the bomb that was clearly meant to kill them. The lawsuit charges the police agencies conspired to neutralize organizing activities for Earth First!'s Redwood Summer and to discredit the movement as a whole. "Rather than conduct a legitimate investigation to find the real bombers, the agencies instead used the attack to smear Bari and Cherney, Earth First! and the Northern California environmental movement," said Cunningham. No charges were ever filed, and to this day there has been no legitimate investigation of the bombing. Meanwhile, a would-be assassin roams free, with the apparent blessing of the FBI and Oakland Police. The press conference preceding the rally will include Dennis Cunningham, lead attorney in the case Bari v. United States of America; Darryl Cherney, co-plaintiff; and Tanya Brannan and Alicia Littletree of the Redwood Summer Justice Project. ++++++++++++++++++ Visit the Judi Bari Home Page for lots more info at http://www.monitor.net/~bari -------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 27 May 1997 23:28:58 GMT From: "Edward J. Crowley Jr." Subj: W.I.I.C. POW-WOW Newsgroup: alt.native May 31 & June 1,1997 Held at Rutland State Park Rutland, Mass. Off Route 122 and 122A. Follow the signs. For information call (508)754-3300 or (508)754-4994 Native American crafts for sale. Traders & Craftsmen, Jewelry, Art, Knives, Furs, Blankets, Food, etc. Park Admission: $2.00 Includes: +Picnic areas +Lifeguard +Swimming +Bathrooms Free admission to Pow-Wow + Walking Bear Drum + Dancers + Music of the Andes by Inca/Sapi + Storytelling Saturday - May 31 - Programs 2:00 & 4:00PM Opening Ceremony Native American Drumming And Dancing Sunday - June 1 - 1PM Native American Drumming And Dancing Closing Ceremony I will be helping out this year, stop and say hello. Hope to see everyone there. Wanishi Black Wolf -------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 21 May 1997 20:30:50 -0400 Subj: Baby Buffalo Pow Wow Reminder From: DynaSoar@YGRI.net (Doktor DynaSoar) Newsgroups: alt.native Brush Creek Farms presents: The Second Annual Baby Buffalo Native American Primitive Pow Wow Hosted by: Rebirth Of A Nation -- Continuing The Unbroken Circle "We can't change the past but we can help change the future." Proceeds from this event benefit Native people. Donations of food, quality used clothing (including coats and sweaters), new clothing, blankets and cash donations are accepted. Native Crafts, Native Art, Native Dance, Native Food, Native Music, Native Jewelry Host Drum: Whirlwind All Nations Singers LOCATION: Brush Creek Buffalo Farm, Riner, VA From Interstate 81 take exit 114, Rt. 8, south, towards Floyd. Appx. 8.5 miles, turn left onto Rt. 602. Follow 602 to intersection of Rt 617 and bear left onto 617. The road turns to gravel. Just stay on this and follow signs to pow wow. DATES AND TIMES: Friday May 30, Saturday May 31, Sunday June 1, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM all days. ADMISSION: $5.00 adult, children under 12 free, senior citizens free. Intertribal: Everyone is welcome to attend this event, especially the public. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on so you can enjoy the pow wow in comfort. All dancers who register at the committee booth will have their names placed in a drawing for free prizes. Absolutely no drugs or alcohol allowed. Host motel: HoJo Inn (540) 381-0150 Camping available at Claytor Lake Park, appx. 13 miles SW along I-81 from pow wow exit. Camping is available at the site for drums, dancers and traders, but be aware this is primitive camping -- no facilities. Volunteers needed; For more information on volunteering call Rusty at (540) 789-7049 Other information (general and trader contracts) call Art Hoover (540) 382-6753, Ingrid Vaughn (540) 381-2275 or David Shupe (after 7 PM) (540) 980-5784 ===== Writer's notes: I attended this event last year. They ferry the attendees to the site by haywagon, past hill sides where bison graze, down to a secluded valley. It's a beautiful, quiet place where you can hear the drums and songs echo for generations. The hosts, Brush Creek Farms, are very fine people who run the bison farm and have a store in Riner, VA. Call them at (540) 381-9764 and ask for a pamphlet on their store. Besides buffalo meat, skins and other products, they sell art work by many local artists. As always, I offer limited camping space here, no charge. I'm a couple miles closer than Claytor Lake, but still about 20 miles from the site. And I have "facilities". Please e-mail or call (540) 731-9597 (don't let the computerized voice answering machine throw you) for directions and arrangements. I've got two couples staying so far. Still some room. -- This has been another fine dynasor@en.com production. ------------------------------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 06:16:06 -0700 From: IMBURGIA Subj: Cultural Curriculum Development Workshop Cultural Curriculum Development Workshop 7/3/1997 June 30-July 3, 1997 in Polson, Montana, the American Indian Institute will host its 17th Annual Cultural Curriculum Development Workshop. This workshop will focus on teaching the process of cultural curriculum development. Following this workshop, participants will be able to take this process back to their local programs to establish cultural curriculum teams in their local areas. During the workshop, each participant will develop 3 cultural lessons which will be edited by American Indian Institute staff and printed in a cultural curriculum guide sent to all workshop participants. For more information, please email us. -------------------------------------------------------- Date: 21 May 1997 03:09:08 GMT From: mosa@rapidnet.com (Rebecca Lord) Subj: Gathering - Spiritual Unity of the World Newsgroups: alt.native **** SPIRITUAL UNITY OF THE WORLD **** ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "The Gathering of Eagles" Custer, South Dakota June 26 - 29, 1997 The Spiritual Unity of the World is a gathering of all people from all Nations uniting spiritually through the sharing and respecting each other's traditions and philosophies of life. The Gatherings are a time to share prayers, stories, and teachings from the past and present for the enlightenment and upliftment of humanity. Our focus for this year's Gathering is: Celebrating a Community of Unity and Diversity upon a Foundation of LOVE, TRUST, and RESPECT. Planned Activities __________________ Honoring of the Elders, Traditions, Singing and Dancing, Youth Activities, Talking Stick Circles, Purification Lodges, Cross-Cultural Discussions, Music and Storytelling, and Spiritual Healing for Mother Earth. This year we are making an effort to reach out to all cultures and religions. History and Purpose Many years ago, Black Elk had a vision of peace and unity among all peoples. Though the years have passed, Black Elk's vision has been pondered and cherished by many, knowing that at some time, the vision would be fulfilled. Sitting Bull also spoke of the time when there would be a gathering of the tribes. People continue to ponder these prophesies of the great leaders and to consult with the Elders regarding when and how these prophesies would be fulfilled. Many believe that the time is now. For thousands of years Elders, Grandmothers, Medicine men and women on many islands of our planet have known that someday all races would be reunited and would bring healing to our Mother Earth. Indigenous peoples who have retained a spiritual way of life would teach their brothers and sisters all over the planet how to renew these ways and live in humility, having respect for all and a sense of oneness with each other and their Creator. In 1988, the Elders were consulted regarding the many prophesies and the time of their fulfillment. It was believed that only the medicine people and the Elders would gather together together to consult, and then teach and lead others. But the Elders were filled with urgency. They felt there wasn't much time remaining, that there had to be gathering now. Understanding must be given to all mankind, and as many as possible must be included. The Elders said things must be done "in a good way" so that the prophesies could be fulfilled as they had been revealed. The guidance of the Elders was followed and the first Spiritual Unity of the Tribes gathering was held in Saskatchewan in 1990. In 1991 the people of Nambe Pueblo in New Mexico hosted the third gathering. It was determined that the Spiritual Unity of the Tribes IV gathering would be held in the Heart of the Turtle Island. It is the "Gathering of Eagles". A Dakotah Elder told his people of this gathering more than thirty years ago. The "Gathering of Eagles" will be held in the Black Hills of South Dakota, in the traditional territory of the Lakota Nation. A small number of Native people were told by the Spirits to pray for peace and the Black Hills for four years. At the second gathering in Saskatchewan, this small group asked permission of the Canadian Elders to host the 1992 gathering and the Elders agreed. When the Spir